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Feb. 3, 1931. R BROWN 1,790,972

FRUIT MARKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1929 2 Sheets -Sheet 1 In venior Feb.- 3, 1931. T. R. BROWN FRUIT MARKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9,1929 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Q w s Attorney Patented Feb. 3, 1931 UNITED'STATES;

THOMAS E. BROWN, F ARCADIA, FLORIDA FRUIT-MARKING MACHINE Application filed November 9, 1929. Serial No. 405,988.

This invention relates to an improvement in fruit marking machines of the type wherein a series of printing drums are mounted for rotation with a shaft in a manner to'print V a desired trademark or any other indlcia on the fruit as it passes the rotating drums.

An important object of the inventlon is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

an improvement in fruit marking machines wherein a plurality of impression dies bearing the desired trademark or 1nd1c1a may be mounted on a single drum which is adapted to be laterally shifted with respect to the runway or track plate over which the fruit travels for the purpose of selectively and ex peditiously bringing one of said dies into position for marking said fruit.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device of the aforementioned character which will be simple'in construction, strong, durable, efficient in its use and which may be manufactured at low cost. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken 1n connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a view in top plan of'the1n vention, the same being shown in assembled position.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation thereof. i Figure 3 is a longltudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3,3 of Fig ure 1. i p

Figure 4: is a detail perspective view, of the improved track plate Figure 5 is a view in side elevatlon of the improved die supporting drum mounted for rotation on the shaft and wherein the pos 1 tion assumed by said drum when shifted is indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 6 is an end view thereof.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the

reference character 1 designates an elongated horizontally disposed rotary shaft uponinvention is associated.

which is mounted a die supporting drum. designated generally by the reference character 2. The drum 2comprises a pair of" complementary sections 3 and 4 of substantially semi-circular cross-section which are provided with the centrally disposed circumferentially extending collar sections 5. i [The collar sections 5 have extending there- .through aligned openings 6 having'counter bored outer end portions 7 for the reception 1 of the clamping bolts 8 for securing the drum sections 3 and 4 upon the shaft 1. Asseen most clearly in Figures 5 and 7 of the drawings, the head and nut on the bolts 8 are positioned in the counter bored portions 7 in or der that the same will not project beyond the 1 periphery of the collar 5. It is to be understood that the shaft 1 may be of any desired length and any desired number of the drum 2 may be mounted thereon to correspond with the capacity of the machine with which this The drum 2 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the shaft. 1 and is keyed thereto for rotation therewith through the medium of the elongated key 9 which'is embedded in the shaft 1' and extends longi tudinally thereof, as clearly seen in Figures 2 and 7 It is understood, of course, that the drum 2 is provided with a longitudinally extending complemental groove in opposed relation to the groove in the shaft for the reception of the projecting portion of the key 9. The drum 2 is further provided with a threaded bore 10 for the reception of a spring-pressed ball detent 11 which is yieldingly seatedin either one of a pair of depressions 12 on the outer face of the key 9 through the medium of the expansible coil springs 13'which are maintained under compression against said ball detent 11 through the medium of the countersunk retaining screw or plug 14. p

At its opposite end, the drum 2 is provided with circumferentially extending guide supporting shoulders or flanges 15-15 which extend beyond the frame of the collar 5 and are provided with spaced threaded openings 16 for the reception of securing ele- U ment or fastening the impression dies thereon.

A forwardly inclined track or guide plate 17 is pivotally mounted on the machine with ther provided, on its longitudinal edges and adjacent the slot 19 with a pair.- ofnotches or recesses 20 which are coextensive with said slot and are adapted for the reception of the-die on. the flange 15 which is not projected through the slot 19. The portion of;

the plate 17 immediately above the slot 19' is substantially V-shaped for the purpose of causing the-fruit to travel over the slot 19.

In the use of the invention the parts are assembled; in the position illustrated. in Figures 1, 2 and. 3 of the drawings and the desired impression dies (not shown) are mounted on the flanges or shoulders 15 through the medium of securing screws which extend into the threaded openings 16 The drum is then moved longitudinally on the shaft until the ball detent'll seats in one of the depressions 12 in the key 9, it being understood, of course, that the track 17' is raised on its pivot in a manner to clear the flanges and die to permit the aforementioned.

longitudinal movement of the drum on the shaft. After the drum has been shifted to the desired position, the plate 17' is lowered and one of the flangeslo with the impression die thereon will project through the centrally disposed slot-19, as clearly seen in Figure 3 of" the drawings. As the fruit passes over the plate or track 17, said fruit will: be guided over the slot 19 by the substantially V-shaped upper end of said track, as willv be obvious and the impression will be made thereon by the die projecting through said,

slot. It is understood, of course, that the shaft 1 and the drum 2 are rotated forthe purpose of marking: the fruit as said fruit passes over the slot 19. The die and the flange of the drum which is not disposed-in the slot 19 projects into one of the notches or recesses 20 and is free to rotatethereiu, as will be understood.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an improvement for use on fruit marking machines wherein a plurality of trademark bearing dies may be selectively positioned for printing any one of a plurality of trademarks or other indicia on the fruit It is believed that the many advantages of a device constructed in accordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it

is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is 1. An improvement on fruit marking machines of the character described comprising guide trackshaving a slot therein, a rotary shaft extending beneath the guide tracks, a drum mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the shaft and for rotation therewith and longitudinally spaced die supporting flanges on the drum adapted to be selectively projected through the slot in the guide tracks. 7 i

2. An improvement on fruit marking machines of the character described comprising an inclined hingedly mounted guide track having a longitudinally'extending slot therein, a rotary shaft extendingitransversely beneath the guide track, a' drum mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the shaft and for rotation therewith and longitudinally spacedtdie supporting flanges on, the drum adapted to be selectively projected through the slot in. the guide track.

8. An improvement on fruit marking machines of the character described comprising a forwardly inclined hingedly mounted guide track having a longitudinally extending slot therein and recesses on its longitudinal side edges adjacent the slot and co-extensive therewith, a rotary shaft extending transversely beneath the guide track, a drum mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the shaft and forrotation therewith and longitudinally spaced circumferentially extending die supporting flanges on. the drum adapted to be selectively projected intothe slot and the recesses on the guide track.

4. An improvement on fruit marking mas chines of the character described mmprising a forwardly inclined hingedly mounted guide track having a longitudinally extending slot therein and recesses in its longitudinal side edges adjacent theslot'and co-extensive therewith, the portion of the guide track above the slot being substantially V-shaped, a rotary shaft extending transversely beneath the guide track, a drum mounted for longitudinal sliding movement onthe shaft and for rotation therewith, and longitudinally spaced circumferentially extending die supporting flanges on the drum adapted to be selectively projected into the slot and the recesses on the guide track.

a. An improvement on fruit marking machines of the characterdescribed comprising a guide track having-a slot therein, a rotary shaft extending transversely beneath the guide track, a drum mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the shaft and for rotation therewith, means for retaining the drum in ad usted position on the shaft, and longitudinally spaced circumferentially extending die supporting flanges onthe drum adapted to be selectively projected into the slot on the guide track.

6. An improvement on fruit marking machines of the character described comprising a guide track having a slot therein, a rotary shaft extending transversely beneath the guide track, a drum mounted for longitudinal adjustment on the shaft and for rotation therewith, spring controlled means for yieldingly retaining the drum in adjusted position on the shaft, and circumferentially extending die supporting flanges on the opposite end of the drum adapted to be selectively projected through the slot in the guide track.

7. An improvement on fruit marking machines of the character described comprising 7 a guide track having a slot therein, a rotary shaft extending transversely beneath the guide track, a sectional drum removably mounted for longitudinal adjustment on the shaft and for rotation therewith, co-acting yieldable means on the drum and the shaft 7 for maintaining said drum in adjusted position on said shaft and circumferentlally extending die supporting flanges mounted on said drum in spaced relation with respect to each other and adapted to be selectively projected into the slot in the guide track.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

THOMAS R. BROWN. 

